SIR FREDERIC SMITHsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Royal Commissioners to inquire into the Defences of the Country have been appointed, and whether there is any probability of their making a Report before the prorogation of Parliament; and, if not, whether, on the recommendation of the Commissioners, Her Majesty's Government will feel at liberty to suspend any works which have been already authorized by Parliament, or to commence without such authority any other works which the Commissioners may represent to be of an urgent character.
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTsaid, that the Members of the Commission had been appointed, but had not yet met. The prorogation of Parliament would, he hoped, take 1120 place next Saturday; there was not, therefore, much probability of their being able to make a Report before that event. Of course the Government would act upon their own responsibility in case such a recommendation as that alluded to by the hon. and gallant Member was made by the Commissioners. He trusted, however, that the particular case which had been put would not occur; at any rate, it was not the intention of the Government to suspend any works until the Report of the Commissioners had been laid before Parliament.